SPEECH ACT

Purposive Communication
SPEECH ACT

 Utterance that has performative function in

language and communication.
 An action performed in saying something.
 A functional unit in communication.
TYPES OF SPEECH ACT

 Locutionary Act
 Illocutionary Act
 Perlocutionary Act
Locutionary Act

 The actual act of uttering

 Also known a locution or an utterance act
 The act of saying something in full normal
sense
Example: “Please do the dishes.”
Illocutionary

The social function of what is said.

By uttering the locution “Please do the dishes,” the

speaker requests the addressee to wash the dishes.
Perlocutionary

The resulting act of what is said. This effect is based on

the particular context in which the speech act was
mentioned.

“Please do the dishes” would lead to the addressee washing the dishes.
Searle’s Classifications of Speech Act

 Assertive
 Directive
 Commissive
 Expressive
 Declaration
 Assertive

A type of illocutionary act in which the speaker expresses belief

about the truth of a proposition. Some examples of an assertive act
are suggesting, putting forward, swearing, boasting, and
concluding.

Example: No one makes better pancakes than I do.

 Directive

A type of illocutionary act in which the speaker tries to make the

addressee perform an action. Some examples of a directive act are
asking, ordering, requesting, inviting, advising, and begging.

Example: Please close the door.

 Commissive

A type of illocutionary act which commits the speaker to

doing something in the future. Examples of a commissive act
are promising, planning, vowing, and betting.

Example: From now on, I will participate in our group activity.

 Expressive

A type of illocutionary act in which the speaker expresses his/her

feelings or emotional reactions. Some examples of an expressive act
are thanking, apologizing, welcoming, and deploring.

Example: I am so sorry for not helping out in our group projects and letting you
do all the work.
 Declaration

A type of illocutionary act which brings a change in the external

situation. Simply put, declarations bring into existence or cause the
state of affairs which they refer to. Some examples of declarations
are blessing, firing, baptizing, bidding, passing a sentence, and
excommunicating.

Example: You are fired!

- By saying that someone is fired, an employer causes or brings about the
person’s unemployment, thus changing his external situation.